I found that there is a difference with the drawing of a custom bitmap brush, when I subclass TGraphicControl versus TCustomControl. The expected behaviour occurs when using the TCustomControl descendant. Each paint starts with the brush in the same position, no matter the location of the control (top-left). When using TGraphicControl however, it appears that the brush is always drawn relative to the top-left of the form. Same behaviour on D5 and DXE2.

I hope anybody can offer a reasonable explanation, as to WHY this is happening. (Please note that I am NOT looking for a work-around, I have one.)

If you wish to reproduce this, here's the code (a form with four speedbuttons to move the middle control):

unit Unit1;

interface

uses
  Winapi.Windows, Winapi.Messages, System.SysUtils, System.Variants,
  System.Classes, Vcl.Graphics, Vcl.Controls, Vcl.Forms, Vcl.Dialogs,
  Vcl.StdCtrls, Vcl.ExtCtrls, Vcl.Buttons;

type
  TCard = class(TGraphicControl) // Change to TCustomControl to view the difference
  private
    FBackColor: TColor;
    FBrushBitmap: TBitmap;
  protected
    procedure Paint; override;
    procedure SetBackColor(AColor: TColor);
    property BackColor: TColor read FBackColor write SetBackColor;
  end;

  TForm1 = class(TForm)
    SpeedButton1: TSpeedButton;
    SpeedButton2: TSpeedButton;
    SpeedButton3: TSpeedButton;
    SpeedButton4: TSpeedButton;
    procedure SpeedButton1Click(Sender: TObject);
    procedure SpeedButton2Click(Sender: TObject);
    procedure SpeedButton3Click(Sender: TObject);
    procedure SpeedButton4Click(Sender: TObject);
  private
    FCard: TCard;
    FCard2: TCard;
    FCard3: TCard;
  public
    constructor Create(AOwner: TComponent); override;
    destructor Destroy; override;
  end;

var
  Form1: TForm1;

implementation

{$R *.dfm}

{ TCard }

procedure TCard.Paint;
var
  r: TRect;
begin
  Canvas.Brush.Color := clWhite;
  Canvas.Rectangle(GetClientRect);
  r := GetClientRect;
  r.Top := 4;
  r.Left := 4;
  r.Bottom := r.Bottom - 4;
  r.Right := r.Right - 4;
  Canvas.Brush.Bitmap := FBrushBitmap;
  Canvas.Rectangle(r);
  Canvas.Brush.Bitmap := nil;
end;

procedure TCard.SetBackColor(AColor: TColor);
begin
  if AColor <> FBackColor then begin
    if FBrushBitmap <> nil then
      FBrushBitmap.Free;

    FBackColor := AColor;
    FBrushBitmap := TBitmap.Create;
    FBrushBitmap.Width := 16;
    FBrushBitmap.Height := 16;
    FBrushBitmap.PixelFormat := pf8bit;
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.Brush.Color := FBackColor;
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.FloodFill(0, 0, FBackColor, fsBorder);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.Pen.Color := clWhite;
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.MoveTo( 0,  0);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.LineTo(16,  0);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.MoveTo( 0,  8);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.LineTo(16,  8);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.MoveTo( 6,  0);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.LineTo( 6,  8);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.MoveTo(12,  8);
    FBrushBitmap.Canvas.LineTo(12, 16);
  end;
end;

{ TForm1 }

constructor TForm1.Create(AOwner: TComponent);
begin
  inherited;

  FCard := TCard.Create(nil);
  FCard.BackColor := clMaroon;
  FCard.Parent:= Self;
  FCard.Left := 13;
  FCard.Top := 8;
  FCard.Width := 60;
  FCard.Height := 90;

  FCard2 := TCard.Create(nil);
  FCard2.BackColor := clGreen;
  FCard2.Parent:= Self;
  FCard2.Left := 39;
  FCard2.Top := 39;
  FCard2.Width := 60;
  FCard2.Height := 90;

  FCard3 := TCard.Create(nil);
  FCard3.BackColor := clNavy;
  FCard3.Parent:= Self;
  FCard3.Left := 100;
  FCard3.Top := 8;
  FCard3.Width := 60;
  FCard3.Height := 90;
end;

destructor TForm1.Destroy;
begin
  FCard.Free;
  FCard2.Free;
  FCard3.Free;
  inherited;
end;

procedure TForm1.SpeedButton1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  FCard2.Top := FCard2.Top - 1;
  FCard.Invalidate;
  FCard2.Invalidate;
  FCard3.Invalidate;
end;

procedure TForm1.SpeedButton2Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  FCard2.Left := FCard2.Left - 1;
  FCard.Invalidate;
  FCard2.Invalidate;
  FCard3.Invalidate;
end;

procedure TForm1.SpeedButton3Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  FCard2.Left := FCard2.Left + 1;
  FCard.Invalidate;
  FCard2.Invalidate;
  FCard3.Invalidate;
end;

procedure TForm1.SpeedButton4Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  FCard2.Top := FCard2.Top + 1;
  FCard.Invalidate;
  FCard2.Invalidate;
  FCard3.Invalidate;
end;

end.

The only thing I can think of as to why this is happening, is that the custom control has it's own message loop (windows handle), whereas the graphic control does not. Still, any references to a definite answer are welcomed.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.